Australia is currently leading the way in circular fashion! Whether you’re a weekend market regular or a busy professional, there has never been a better time to sell your preloved clothes.
If you’re looking to declutter, you’ve likely seen the rent-a-rack stores popping up in your local high street. They are a fantastic way to engage with your local community. But if you live a bit further away, or if your schedule is packed, you might be looking for a more "hands-off" alternative.
Introducing the "Virtual Rack": Our SwapUp Kit
At SwapUp, we offer a modern twist on the classic consignment model. We call it our SwapUp Kit. Think of it as a virtual rack: you still get a dedicated space for your items, but we manage the "shop floor" for you.
Finding the Right Fit for Your Wardrobe
Both rent-a-rack and SwapUp Kits are excellent ways to keep clothes out of landfills. Here is how to decide which one matches your needs:
A traditional Rent-a-Rack is a great choice if:
-
You love merchandising: You enjoy the process of steaming, pricing and styling your rack and seeing your items displayed in a physical store.
-
You’re a local: You live close to the store and don’t mind popping in to tidy your rack or add new pieces throughout the week.
-
You don’t mind taking a risk: Most rent-a-rack charges anywhere between $280 to $450 for 2-4 weeks of selling.
A SwapUp Kit is a great choice if:
-
You’re short on time: You’d prefer to pack a single bag and let someone else handle the pricing, photography, and customer inquiries.
-
You want national reach: You want your clothes to be visible to shoppers in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and everywhere in Australia—all at once.
-
You prefer low upfront costs: You’re looking for a service with a smaller initial fee ($50) to get started.
-
You value expert data: You’d like your items priced using a database of over 100,000 items to ensure they find the right buyer at the right price.
How to start selling with SwapUp >>
Understanding the Payouts: Which Model Earns You More?
When deciding how to sell, it’s important to look at the "big picture" of your earnings.
Rent-a-rack services often offer a higher percentage of the sale price but you must sell enough to cover your $280+ rental fee before you break even.
With a SwapUp Kit, your entry fee is just $50. We handle the photography, professional listing, and shipping. Because we invest more time into each individual item, your payout percentage increases with the value of the piece (up to 60%). At SwapUp, we also offer a 20% "Circular Bonus" for those who choose to use their earnings to shop secondhand.
SwapUp’s virtual model has a much lower entry cost, with a sliding scale payout based on the value of each item.
|
Feature |
SwapUp |
Traditional Rent-a-Rack |
|
Effort Level |
Minimal (we do it all, you just need to send the items in) |
High (you steam, research, price, tag, tidy, pack and unpack your items within a short timeframe) |
|
Pricing |
Data-driven (expertly calibrated based on our database of 100,000+ items) |
Intuition (you set the prices) |
|
Payout % |
15% to 60% |
70% – 100%* |
|
Photography |
Professional studio shots |
- |
|
Experience |
Digital convenience |
Physical retail store |
|
Reach |
Australia-wide |
Local foot traffic |
|
Upfront Cost |
$50 (low risk) |
$250 – $450 (premium rent) |
|
The Result |
All-in service. |
DIY service. |
Is a SwapUp Kit Right for You?
Choosing between a SwapUp Kit and a traditional rent-a-rack comes down to how you like to spend your time and how much "hands-on" control you want over your sales.
A SwapUp Kit might NOT be your first choice if:
❌ You’re an Expert Merchandiser: You enjoy the process of styling your own physical rack, tagging every item, and visiting a store weekly to tidy your display.
❌ You’re Chasing Maximum Margin: You are confident your items will sell quickly and you’d prefer to pay a higher upfront rent to keep a larger slice of the final sale price.
❌ You Prefer the DIY Route: You have the spare time to handle every detail—from researching market prices to managing the logistics.
However, a SwapUp Kit is your PERFECT match if:
✔️ You Value Your Time: You’ve tried renting a rack before and realised the hours spent prepping and commuting could be better spent elsewhere.
✔️ You Want a Partner in Selling: You prefer a "sharing model" where a professional team manages the photography, pricing data, and shipping on your behalf.
✔️ You’re New to the Resale Game: This is your first time selling and you want to avoid the steep learning curve (and potential "no-sell" risk) of managing a physical rack or online shop alone.
✔️ You Want Effortless Reach: You have high-quality pieces but don't want the hassle of learning complex online marketplaces—you just want them to find a loving new home.
If you’re ready to clear your closet but your "to-do" list is already full, we’re here to help. The SwapUp Kit is designed to make selling as easy as sending a parcel.
Click here to order your SwapUp Kit and join the revolution!
